CEO's Contract Obsession-Chapter 201: Bait

Anton and Mary entered the living room to find Rei waiting, but his appearance was far from presentable. His hair was unkempt, resembling that of a homeless person, and he hadn’t shaved. Additionally, he seemed visibly exhausted.

As soon as Anton and Mary approached him, Rei hastily rose to his feet. "I apologize for showing up without telling you first," he said apologetically. "I attempted to reach both of you over the phone but you are out of reach. Since I was already on my way home, I thought I’d stop by instead of waiting."

"That’s ok. If you’ve come for something important, it’s alright. Join us for dinner, and we can discuss it while we eat," Anton extended an invitation, to which Rei nodded.

As they made their way towards the dining area, Rei didn’t waste any time sharing what he had discovered. "The engineer has passed away," he revealed.

Mary and Anton abruptly stopped walking, stunned by the news. "What? Are you referring to the person who inspected the jet on the island?" Anton exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yes, that’s the one. He was involved in a car accident earlier today. The initial investigation suggests that his car had a faulty brake. However, the police are also considering the possibility of foul play, suspecting that he might have been intentionally killed," Rei explained.

"The engineers at the airport hangar have confirmed that the jet was in proper condition, including the parachutes. They even took photographs as part of their protocol before signing the clearance papers..."

When they arrived in the dining area, Rei fell silent as his gaze fixed on Roana.

"I’ve already set an extra plate for Rei. Please, have a seat," Roana announced, positioning herself one chair away from Anton, opposite Mary.

Mary couldn’t help but feel suspicious about Roana’s actions. ’What is she up to now?’ Mary wondered silently as she observed Roana’s movements.

"It’s alright, Rei. You can continue," Anton reassured him, silently saying that it was safe to proceed and trust Roana.

Mary raised an eyebrow as she helped herself to some food. "Are you absolutely sure about that?" she asked, a hint of skepticism in her voice.

Roana glanced at Mary but remained silent, focusing on serving herself some food.

Rei’s confusion grew as he observed the back-and-forth exchange between Mary and Anton. However, as he began to grasp the situation, he couldn’t help but bite his lips to suppress a laugh.

But when he caught sight of Anton’s fearful expression while Mary appeared angry, Rei couldn’t contain himself any longer and burst into laughter.

’She is jealous,’ Rei thought. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The three of them stared at Rei, bemused by his unexpected outburst. "I apologize," Rei managed to say between his laughter. "I’ve been under so much stress and pressure all day, and this moment just brought some much-needed relief. This is the highlight of my day, I tell you."

He placed a firm grip on Anton’s shoulder and continued, "Good luck, my friend. I truly wish you all the best." Rei’s laughter persisted, and he found it difficult to contain himself. He continued to chuckle, unable to stop the wave of amusement that had overtaken him.

Anton interjected, attempting to shift the focus away from Rei’s laughter. "Please, go ahead and tell us what else you wanted to share," he urged, eager to redirect the conversation and delve into the important information Rei had come to deliver.

Rei relayed the newly discovered information with a sense of urgency, "I just found out today that, in addition to those who were intended to know, Amy mistakenly informed her operations manager, Kevin, about their destination."

Rei addressed the group, sharing his concerns about Henry’s preexisting animosity, "I haven’t had the chance to inform Henry yet. It’s important to take precautions that he already harbors a strong dislike for Kevin, even prior to this incident. If I were to tell him now, we fear that he might react impulsively and resort to immediate violence."

The group maintained their focused attention on Rei as they enjoyed their meal, and he proceeded to share his thoughts. "Considering Henry’s behavior prior to having Amy in his life, we must be especially cautious. The fact that Amy is now involved in this situation may further hinder Henry’s ability to maintain self-control." Rei’s words conveyed a sense of concern.

Anton sought confirmation, knowing Rei’s meticulous nature and their long-standing relationship. "And I presume there’s more to this than just the concern over Henry’s reaction, isn’t there?" Anton inquired, confident that Rei had conducted thorough research and investigation before presenting the information to them.

Rei expressed his disappointment, shaking his head as he conveyed the issue at hand. "That’s the problem. Despite our best efforts, we haven’t been able to establish any connection between Kevin and the engineer, or any evidence linking him to the accident.

Even Uncle Trev and his military connections have been actively involved, but we’re hitting a dead end. It’s as if there’s no trail to follow." Rei’s frustration was evident as he shared the lack of progress in their investigation.

Roana chimed in with a different perspective, suggesting, "Maybe Kevin is not involved at all."

Mary responded by rolling her eyes, clearly indicating her disapproval of Roana’s statement.

"Have you looked into the possibility of Amy’s office being bugged or any other locations that might have been compromised?" Mary suggested.

Rei confirmed Mary’s inquiry, stating, "Yes, we thoroughly checked Amy’s office and other locations, but we found no signs of any surveillance devices. Therefore, it appears that the information may have been obtained through word of mouth or verbal communication."

Being aware of Rei’s thoroughness and ability to uncover pertinent information, Anton can sense that there was more to Rei’s revelation. "So, Rei, what do you need from us? What kind of help are you asking from us?"

Anton’s contemplative tone indicated that he understood there were additional aspects to the situation that required their attention and involvement.

Rei presented his request, outlining his plan for further investigation. "I’m in need of someone to closely monitor Kevin and capture any evidence of his involvement in the case. Once we confirm his connection, it will be easier to gather additional evidence, considering we already have a lead to follow."

A moment of silence enveloped the room as everyone engaged in deep contemplation, carefully considering Rei’s plan and strategizing on its implementation. Each person’s thoughts revolved around the best course of action, envisioning the steps needed to execute the plan effectively.

"Rei, it will be challenging to place someone close to Kevin without arousing suspicion. Given that he knows all of us, he may become suspicious and perceive our actions as an attempt to expose him if he is indeed involved." Anton’s observation highlighted the delicate nature of the situation, emphasizing the need for a careful and discreet approach.

"Then let me do it," Roana asserted, with determination in her voice. Her unexpected declaration caught everyone’s attention.

Her proposal to take on the task of monitoring Kevin surprised the others, as they contemplated her involvement and the potential risks it entailed.

"And why should we trust you?" Mary expressed her distrust with a scoff, questioning Roana’s trustworthiness and downplaying her willingness to get involved.

"That’s exactly what I mean. They will not think that I work with you guys since you don’t trust me. You see me as Anton’s crazy ex-girlfriend who is trying to win him back," Roana replied.

"And are you not?" Mary quickly responded.

Rei struggled to stifle his laughter as he tried to maintain focus on the situation at hand, while Mary’s sarcastic remark challenged Roana’s sincerity.

"Mary, I was planning to talk and apologize to you in private, but I guess it doesn’t matter where and when I do it, so I’ll do it now.

I do love Anton, but not as a lover anymore. He is still a dear childhood friend of mine.

A lot of women are trying to come after him for his money and I did what I did to you just to protect him, and to test you. Please believe me that I am not trying to win him back. All I want is to get my son back. And let me prove it to you.

Let me show my loyalty and truthfulness to what I am saying right now. I will be your bait and if I back out on my words you can forget helping me in getting my son back. You can even help his father to win against me." Roana’s words and conviction struck a chord within Mary.

Reflecting on the past interactions she had with Roana, Mary made a decision to extend the benefit of the doubt. Recognizing that her own judgment might be clouded.

She chose to entrust the final decision to Anton and Rei, allowing them to determine whether Roana would be included in their joint efforts. Mary’s willingness to consider alternative perspectives demonstrated her open-mindedness and willingness to collaborate for the greater good.